Western Legends

Western cowboys are legendary. They've always been up early, worked hard all day, and taken pride in their ability to get the job done. Disdero Lumber gets the job done in the west, as well.

We've been providing high quality clear lumber and specialty wood products for almost 50 years, including Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, Redwood, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Epoch Composite Decking, Ponderosa Pine, Radiata Pine, and timber frame quality Douglas Fir timbers. We serve Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Colorado, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii. Call us when you need the job done right.

Big W-Willamette's Word War

As Weyerhaeuser Co.'s hostile takeover attempt of Willamette Industries, Portland, Or., enters its fifth month, a war of words continues to rage between the two rivals.

Most recently, Willamette appealed to shareholders to reject three Weyerhaeuser-backed candidates to the board, claiming the trio were not independent enough.

Big W countered by asserting that many Willamette shareholders favorably view the proposed hostile takeover bid of $5.4 billion, or $48 a share.

Willamette ceo Duane McDougall scoffed at the news, insisting the allcash offer is too low. "We've been perfectly clear that $48 per share is totally inadequate," he said. "We can bring more value to shareholders remaining independent. "

Although he would not name a price, McDougall did say the firm is worth "a lot more" than $48 per share. "We have said over and over in the past that we're not for sale," he said, "but at the same time the board knows it has a fiduciary responsibility to listen to serious offers."

The election of new officers will be held during Willamette's annual shareholder meetins June l.

Composites For LVL, Lineals

Two western manufacturers are using Dow Plastics' thermoplastics composite technology to produce stronger engineered wood and trim products.

Pacific Woodtech Corp., Burlington, Wa., a subsidiary of ltochu Corp. of Japan, is combining its production method with selective reinforcement using Dow's Fulcrum Technology to produce enhanced LVL.

Weyerhaeuser, Federal Way, Wa., views the event as an opportunity for shareholders to debate their offer.

"Finally, the Willamette shareholders will have the opportunity to show their strong support for our proposed transaction in a manner that cannot be ignored by the Willamette board," said Steven Rogel, Weyerhaeuser chairman, ceo and president.

Although the joint development will focus on industrial applications such as scaffold planks. opportunities may also exist in residential construction for beams and headers.

Milgard Windows, reportedly the largest manufacturer of windows in the western U.S., has licensed Fulcrum Technology to develop high performance thermoplastic composite window and door lineals.

The added strength, toughness and corrosion resistance reportedly will help eliminate structural deterioration. Milgard says the thermoplastic material exhibits the same level of expansion and contraction as glass, reducing unnecessary stress on installed windows and doors.

The recyclability and aesthetics of thermoplastic composties are added benefits. "Fulcrum Technology offers the advantage of recycling scrap created during the manufacture, design and construction of window and door lineals," explains Marc Gagnon, applications development manager for Fulcrum Technology. "In addition, the adhesion of thermoplastic composites produced using this technology to other thermoplastics may provide a number of very promising aesthetic coating possibilities."

New Owner For Fremont

Fremont Forest Group Corp., a subsidiary of Marubeni America Corp., has purchased the assets of Fremont Forest Products from the Peter V. Speek Trust.

Fremont Forest Products operates corporate offices in Whittier, Ca., and a terminal in the Port of Long Beach.

Daisuke "Dean" Hashimoto, general manager of the Marubeni America's

TreeSource Considering Sale

TreeSource Industries Inc., Portland, Or., beleaguered operator of mills in Glide, and Tillamook, Or., Tumwater, Wa, and a custom drying plant in Philomath, Or.. is reviewing its options, including a possible sale.

Due to weak market conditions, the company, which filed for Chapter 1l bankruptcy protection in Sept. 1999, recently closed its softwood lumber mills in Central Point. Morton. and

Seattle, Wa., office, will also serve as president of Fremont Forest Group.

Chief operating officer is Lynn Forsberg, who spent 25 years with International Paper and most recently was president of Hemco Timber Co., and chief financial officer is James R. Salo, long-time Fremont employee and president since the death of founder Speek in 1999. Alex Delgado continues as harbor facilities msr.

North Powder, Or., and shuttered its hardwood facility in South Bend, Wa.

"Changes in the lumber market and in the economy since our Plan of Reorganization filing have made it appropriate to reassess our strategic options," said ceo Jess Drake.

TreeSource reportedly has a $16 million line of credit scheduled to expire April 5 or on the effective date of a final reorganization order, according to SEC filings.

Smarter Pricing Seen As Key

Smarter pricing based on a thorough analysis of customer needs and buying patterns increases profits, according to a new book on pricing for wholesaler-distributors.

"Pricing, it seems, is done at the last minute to consummate the sale," write Scott Benfield and Jane Baynard in Capturing Value: Pricing Management for Distributors. The pair urge owners to avoid running their business strictly by orchestrating countermoves against the competition. Instead, implement corporate-level, pricingmanagement focusing on the various customer types served and their individual product and service needs.

"Regardless of industry, most products and their prices are not unique to any one wholesaler," says Benfield. "The customer knows this and behaves accordingly: by putting his business up for auction every day."